Roadside Fishing in the Eastern Interior of Alaska

Exploration, Solitude, Scenery…

The Eastern Interior offers excellent and diverse fishing opportunities accessible from the highways, for both stocked and native fish...

Northern Pike… Arctic Grayling... Rainbow Trout…. Arctic Char… Dolly Varden… Burbot... Table of Contents

Welcome to Eastern Interior Alaska ...... 1

Fishing the Four Road Systems ...... 2

Identifying Freshwater Species Found in Eastern Interior Alaska...... 3

Fishing the Alaska Highway ...... 4

Fishing Tips ...... 4

Fishing Glenn Hwy/Tok Cutoff ...... 5

Fishing Nabesna Road ...... 6

Fishing the Taylor Highway ...... 6

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility please write: ADF&G ADA Coordinator, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 300 Webb, Arlington, VA 22203 Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington DC, 20240 The department’s ADA Coordinator can be reached via phone at the following numbers: (VOICE) 907-465-6077, (Statewide Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) 1-800-478-3648, (Juneau TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-6078 For information on alternative formats and questions on this publication, please contact: ADF&G, Sports Fish Division, Research and Technical Services, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518, (907) 267-2375 Welcome to Eastern Interior Alaska

Not only does Tok serve as the gateway to Alaska, it is also the centerpoint to many fishing locations in the eastern interior. Several major road systems are connected to Tok and provide access to creeks, rivers, and lakes with opportunities to fish for Arctic Grayling, northern pike, rainbow trout, coho salmon, Dolly Varden, whitefish, Arctic char and burbot. Most of these areas are accessible by trails Winter pike fishing ... ranging in length from a few hundred yards to several miles off the highway.

In the eastern interior, you will Anglers staying for multiple days can take advantage of public camping areas. State Parks and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service campgrounds find a variety of lake and stream are located along the Alaska Highway and Tok Cut-Off while Bureau of fishing. These areas may be Land Management campgrounds are off the Taylor Highway. Many of reached by trails from a few these parks also offer hiking trails for those wanting to further explore hundred yards to 4.5 miles off Alaska’s woodlands. the highway. Fishing in this area is divided along the main road systems: the Alaska Highway, the Glenn Highway/Tok Cut-Off and the Taylor Highway (see map on back of book). All of the fishing spots along the Alaska Highway lie within the Tanana River Drainage. The Tok River, flowing in a northerly direction, joins the Tanana River near Tok. At the Tetlin Junction, 12 miles east of Tok, anglers can opt to travel the Taylor Highway to fish the Fortymile River tributaries. Fishing areas along the Tok Cut-Off also lie within the Tanana River drainage for the first 50 miles. The Tok Cut-Off/Glenn Highway follows the Tok River drainage to Mentasta Pass, where it enters the Copper River drainage. The Nabesna Road turns from the Tok Cut-Off at Slana and also provides anglers with the opportunity to test their skills in several streams and lakes.

Eastern Interior communities in the area include Tok, Tanacross, Stocking an interior lake with rainbow trout Northway, Slana, Dot Lake, Chicken, Eagle, and Boundary. fingerlings... 1 Fishing the Alaska Highway Lake/Stream Road Access Species 1. Scottie Creek Milepost 1223.3 Arctic grayling 2. Desper Creek Milepost 1225.7 (Boat Ramp, parking off highway) Arctic grayling, Northern pike 3. Island Lake Milepost 1230.2 (3/4 mile hike from highway) Northern pike 4, Hidden Lake Milepost 1240, 1/2 mile trail to lake rainbow trout 5. Gardiner Creek Milepost 1246.6 Arctic grayling, Northern pike 6. Deadman Lake Milepost 1249.4 (Road, 1 mile off highway) Northern pike 7. Yarger Lake (Lakeview) Milepost 1256.7 (Road, 1/4 mile off highway) Northern pike

Fishing Tips: • For Arctic grayling, use small flies such as a caddis, woolly worm, mosquito, or a pattern. A small spinner, • You can use a variety of tackle to catch fish in stocked spoon, or lead-headed jig can also bring success. In lakes and roadside streams, but check the Fishing lakes, try fishing just off the weeds or lily pads. Regulation Summary for the waters in which you plan to fish. • As water temperatures warm during summer, fish seek deeper, cooler waters in the lake. During the spring and • Rainbow trout do not occur naturally in the Tanana River fall, look for fish to be nearer the shoreline. drainage, but are stocked by Alaska Department of Fish and Game in land-locked lakes. Try fly fishing with egg • The use of bait and treble hooks is prohibited in some patterns or streamers. Spinners, spoons, or jigging waters. It is the angler’s responsibility to check the with bait such as salmon eggs, shrimp, or green or pink Sport Fishing Regulations for each area he/she fishes. artificial bait can work well. The regulations also contain a species identification page. • Northern pike have sharp teeth making a wire leader or heavy line a must. Bright, fast-moving lures attract pike. • Remember: For catch & release, do not use bait, use You can also try jigging with bait. Pike tend to remain in single barbless hooks, land quickly, leave the fish in the slow moving or still water that is less than 15 feet deep. water, and handle gently when backing out the hook.

• Burbot bite best in the late evening. Use a large, single • For more fishing information, visit our website at: hook baited with whitefish, herring, or smelt, and attach adequate weight to keep the bait on the bottom. http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region3/index.cfm

2 Fishing the Alaska Highway Lake/Stream Road Access Species 8. Bitters Creek Milepost 1280.3 Arctic grayling 9. Forrest Lake Milepost 1347.5 (ATV Trail to lake 6 miles) rainbow trout 10. Robertson Lake #2 Milepost 1348.1 (1/2 mile trail from highway) rainbow trout 11. Jan Lake Milepost 1354 (Road, 1/4 mile off highway) rainbow trout, coho salmon 12. Berry Creek Milepost 1371.5 (Turnout, south of highway) Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden 13. Lisa Lake Milepost 1381.1 (Trail 3/4 mile from highway) rainbow trout 14. Craig Lake Milepost 1383.7 (1 mile Craig Lk Loop Rd., 1/2 mile trail) rainbow trout 15. Donna Lakes Milepost 1391.8 (trails 3.5 miles and 4.5 miles to lakes) rainbow trout

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson

Fishing Glenn Hwy/Tok Cutoff Lake/Stream Road Access Species 16. Tok Overflow #1 Milepost 104.5 (Culvert) Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden 17. Tok Overflow #2 Milepost 104.9 (Culvert) Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden 18. Tok River (Glacial) Milepost 103.8 (Bridge Crossing) Arctic grayling in clear side streams 19. Little Tok River (Highway Bridge) Milepost 98.2 (Pulloff) Arctic grayling 20. Little Tok River (Broken Bridge) Milepost 91.0 (Pulloff) Arctic grayling 21. Mineral Lake outlet trailhead Milepost 90.0 (Pulloff) Arctic grayling (hike 3/4 mile) 22. Mineral Lake inlet (Station Creek) Milepost 89.0 (Pulloff) Arctic grayling, Northern pike (canoe access)

3 Fishing Nabesna Road Lake/Stream Road Access Species 23. Rufus Creek (Spring Fishery) Mile 6 (Turnout) Dolly Varden 24. Copper Lake Trail Head Mile 12.2 (14 mile trail) lake trout, burbot 25. Long Lake Mile 23 (Turnout) Arctic grayling, burbot 26. Tanada Lake Trail Head Mile 24 (15 mile trail) lake trout, burbot 27. Little Twin Lake/ Big Twin Lake (Tanana Drainage) Mile 27.8 (Pulloff) Arctic grayling, lake trout, burbot 28. Jack Lake (Tanana Drainage) Mile 31(mile trail south) Arctic grayling, lake trout, whitefish, burbot 29. Jack Creek (Tanana Drainage) Mile 35.3 (Pulloff) Arctic grayling

Fishing Regulations and Emergency Orders:

Anglers should always check for changes to regulations or emergency orders prior to fishing. Fishing information for Interior Alaska (Region III) is available online at: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region3/ index.cfm Fishing the Taylor Highway Lake/Stream Road Access Species 30. Four Mile Lake Milepost 4.1 (Trail 1/4 mile) rainbow trout, lake trout, Arctic char 31. Logging Cabin Creek Milepost 43 (Turnout) Arctic grayling 32. West Fork Dennison Milepost 49 (Turnout) Arctic grayling 33. Taylor Creek Milepost 53 Arctic grayling 34. Mosquito Fork Milepost 64 Arctic grayling 35. South Fork Milepost 75 Arctic grayling 36. Walker Fork Milepost 82 Arctic grayling

Note: Arctic grayling can be found in many of the streams along the Taylor Hwy.

4 This brochure was produced by:

Alaska Department of Fish & Game Division of Sport Fish, Region III (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim and Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River) 1300 College Rd., Fairbanks, AK 99701 (907) 459-7228

Reach us on the web at: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region3/index.cfm

Sport fishing regulations in the AYK/UCUS region are posted on the web and can be viewed by clicking on the link for “Regulations” at the Sport Fish home page. Emergency orders and current information about inseason closures are also posted on the day of issue on our website.

Delta Junction 34

AL AS KA H IGH 33

R W A Tan I an 32 C Y a River H 15

A 31

R 14 Y D 13 12 A SO W H N 11 G I

H 10 H I

G R

H O L W 9 Tanacross Y A A T Y

Tok 30

er iv 16 R 17 Tok 8 18 20 19 Paxson 21 22 Northway DENALI HWY 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 FF 23 -O Slana N UT AB C ES NA OK er /T iv RO Y R A A er 2425 D W pp GH o 26 HI C N 27 EN 28 GL 29 Gakona Junction